05 Fe450 suspension tuning

I rode my 450 today on my Hare scramble/grass track. To keep the front from diving when decelling, I installed 4.6 springs and ran the stk 80/250 spring in the back. After a few laps I softened the fork compression 4 clicks and the high speed on the shock by half a turn. It seems very good, but was a little harsh on braking bumps and chopy corners.

The track is hard pack clay, bentonite to be exact and can get blue groove, single track for about half of it, similar to the "Sovereign trail" in Moab, and flat wide off camber for the rest of the grass track. The grass track has a couple 2nd gear corners but mostly 3/4 gear.

I had dropped the fork all the way to the lowest line on the tube. It turns in on anything but it is a little dicey on downhill braking bumps.

After installing a 71-96/260 spring for experiment, I am in a quandry. The progressive spring really holds a line better, soaks up the chop better, but looses the back easier on fast sweepers, but does not drop into a rut without serious committment. If I couldget the best of both worlds....

I think there is more testing needed.

fry

btw rider weight approx 240 plus gear, 30 mm static sag, 112 mm race sag both springs

I'm going to believe your fork rebound suggestion Ajt. As far as spring rates, in my 03 I run 4.8 and a 85/111 but the dampening has been stiffened considerably since then, some in 04 and more again this year. I'll give up what I learn next time I'm out.

thanks gents

fry

I thought so too, it cornered well etc, but once I rode more here at home, I found that on steep descents, the fork dived too much and I lost stability.

Thanks Cody

Yes a trade off is often made, I was hoping I might find the illustrius holy grail. The progressive to funky and the 80 is more predictable and the only real complaint with it is that is wasn't that comfy settling into a corner and would climb out, so maybe a little less sag or softer low speed.

My seat has a permanent dish in the front of the foam where my fat as sits and stays, its like velcro, who needs one of those stinkin' factory stepped seats!!!

Fry

I have since softened the comp on the fork two more clicks and now tried the 84 spring.

Big difference. The progressive is too "boingy". THe 84 is sweet, the bike doesn't settle as much, turns in as it should, holds the line as it should and doesn't slide the back out on fast, flat sweepers.

Next the 88 to see if it is too stiff or..

fry

Powercell

What did these mods do for you? Shortening the shock should rake it out some and then more sag does it again, does your tight tree prowess get lost in the process?

taffy

80/84/88 are straight rate springs, but you knew that. My @$$ is big, take care the next time you try and kick it. I'm figerin ouwt yo tipe, over therr cross thu wuter, spitn insults, me and my bro Bobzilla are onta yu

Taff

No I didn't, but I was blissfully unaware all season long that I should have. With the 46/84 combo it was unbalanced for your style of riding. I do think that with that heavy of spring in the 05, the high speed dampening is then too harsh.

Your 02 might be better with those rates.